Container opener with pivoted guard



Aug. 30, 1955 E. RILEY 2,715,277

CONTAINER OPENER WITH PIVOTED GUARD Filed Oct. 29, 1952 INVENTOR. EDWARD RILEY l| BY In M at g? United States Patent CONTAINER OPENER WITH PIVOTED GUARD Edward Riley, Crete, N ebr., assignor of one-half to M. A. Benne, Crete, Nebr.

Application October 29, 1952, Serial No. 317,488

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-16) The instant invention relates to can openers, bottle decappers and the like. An object of the invention is to provide means assembled with a bottle decapper for incising holes in the end of a can in a manner whereby, at times when not in use, the sharp edges of the decapper and incisor are folded together in such a way that said edges cooperate together for preventing a punching or a wearing of holes through the pockets of a user at times when the new tool is transported in one of his pockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide the two main portions of the new device hinged together in such a way that the said sharp edges are decommissioned when folded protectively together, and to provide resilient means for causing the said two portions to remain in a folded position, when not in use, for providing a compact device which may be readily transported in the pocket of a user while, at the same time, relative swinging movement may be applied to one of said main portions and with respect to the other and againstthe urge of said resilient means for disposing said portions in an operative position of use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the new device in an open position, a fragment of a can being represented by means of broken lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the new device shown in Figure 1 certain portions of the device being broken away.

Figure 3 is a side view of the new device and showing the relative position of the parts thereof at times when said parts are folded together in a transporting position.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the new device, the view being taken substantially on 5' line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the pivot pin employed, the view being on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a side view of a spring washer preferably employed.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description in which like numerals of reference designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, indicates a main body portion or handle which is preferably formed of suitable plastic material. As best shown in Figure 4, the member 10 is an elongated bar provided on one side thereof with a medially disposed recess 12 for a reception therein of a spring washer 14.

The new device further includes the flat shank portion or upper bar 16 of a tin can incisor device, generally indicated at 18, such as may be employed for puncturing one end of a beer can or the like for permitting the contents of the can to flow outwardly.

Referring to Figure l, a portion of one end of the can 20 is illustrated by means of broken lines. The end wall of the can is circular in plan and provided with a rolled perimetrical edge, which is crimped or seamed to the adjacent annular edge of the side wall of the can in a 2,716,277. Federated Aug. 30, 1955 well known manner, whereby said can is provided with an annular outwardly disposed flange or protuberance 22.

The fiat portion 16 terminates in a diagonally disposed V-shaped section having a sharp point 24 which, in use, is placed against the end wall of the can. During manufacture of the device, the member 18 is formed by means of a punch press operation, whereby a tang 26 is pressed outwardly away from the offset portion 28 which carries the sharp point 24.

During use, the terminal end 30 of the tang is disposed under and against the flange 22 of the can, whereby a movement of the new tool in the direction of the arrow 32 causes the sharp point 24 to make an incision in the end wall of the can, since the end 30 of the tang 26 provides a fulcrum point for the said operation in a well known manner.

The bottle decapping portion of the new device, generally indicated at 19, includes a second shank or fiat portion 34 having a portion 36, which is offset with respect to the shank or lower bar 34. The portion 36 is provided with an obtuse end 38, which, when folded provides a guard for the point 24 of the upper bar or shank 16, in use, is placed upon the top of a bottle cap at times when the cap is attached across the mouth of the bottle for closing the latter.

The arcuate ofiset portion 36, during a manufacture thereof, is incised to provide a tongue 40 disposed outwardly therefrom.

The terminal end 42 of the tongue 40, during use, is placed under and against the annular crimped edge of the said bottle cap and the device manipulated for detaching said cap from the bottle, in a well known manner.

Approximately midway between the ends of the member 10, the latter is provided with an aperture 44 for a reception therethrough of a pivot pin 46.

The flat portion 16, together with the fiat portion 34 of the can incisor 18, and the bottle decapper 19 are respectively provided with apertures which, in use, are disposed axially with respect to the aperture 44 of the member 10.

The annular wall of the aperture 48 of the metallic fiat portion 16 is beveled and inclinedly disposed during manufacture and as shown in Figure 4. Similarly, the annular wall of the aperture of the portion 34 is beveled or inclinedly disposed for purposes later described.

During manufacture and assemblage of the parts, the initially cylindrical pivot pin 46 is placed through the aligned apertures of the parts 10, 16 and 34, together with the washer, after first disposing the spring washer 14 in the recess 12 of the member 10, whereupon the ends of the pivot pin 46 are peened and caused to flange outwardly for attaching the adjacent parts together, said flanges of the pin being disposed against the beveled walls 48 and 50 for the said purpose, as shown. During the peening operation the open ends of the spring washer 14 are thereby caused to become moved towards each other and from the normal position of said ends shown in Figure 5 to the position thereof shown in Figure 4, whereby the resiliency of the spring washer 14 exerts an urge or push against the member 16 for preventing the parts 16 and 34 from being freely swingable with respect to the member 10, while, at the same time, the upper bar or shank 16 and lower bar or shank 34 may be manipulated and against the urge of the spring washer of the swivel joint for causing the new device to become in a folded sheathed position, as shown in Figure 3, with one of the offset portions providing a shield for the other, or in an open position, as shown in Figure 1.

The metallic portions of the new device, including the outwardly disposed surfaces of the members 16 and 34 which, during use, provide the handle portion of the new 3 device, are covered respectively by means of like strips orferrules 52 and 54.

The said strips or ferrules are comparatively thin and formed of sheet plastic material of variegated colors for pi o vid inga device of ornate appearance and for covering theends of the pivot pin 46.

After the device is assembled as above described, a small rivet 56 is placed through the member 16 adjacent the tang 26 thereof and through the strip 52, whereupon the can incisor portion 18 of the new device is turned on the pivot pin 46 about ninety degrees (93) for causing the member 18 to be moved crosswise of the member 10 so that the ends of the member 10 overhang the sides of the portion 10 of the new device, thereby permitting a second rivet 58 to be placed through the strip 52 and the member "16, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Like rivets 60 and 62 are similarly disposed through the member 34 and the strip 54 for attaching the latter to the shank portion 34.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a foldable decapper and opener assembly constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly' well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility'with which it may be assembled and operated,

and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

In a container opener, the combination which comprises an elongated bar, rectangular-shaped in cross section providing a body portion or handle, an upper bar having a shank positioned against one side of the handle and having an end extended beyond one end of the handle with, a diagonally disposed V-shaped section with sharp edges carried by the extended end of the shank and connected to said shank with an arcuate upwardly disposed portion, the extended end of said V-shaped section having a point positioned at a slight angle and extended toward the handle, and the end of said shank positioned at the point of intersection of the arcuate upwardly disposed portion and straight portion thereof being provided with a depending tang whereby with the tang positioned under a bead on the end of a can the point of the V-shaped section is adapted to be pressed through the end wall of the can by upward movement of the handle, a plastic finishing plate secured to the outer surface of said shank, a lower bar having a shank positioned against the under surface of the handle and also having an end extended beyond the end of the handle, said lower bar having an arcuate portion formed in the extended end providing a guard for the point of the V-shaped section of the extended end of the upper bar, a plastic finishing plate secured to the outer surface of saidlower bar, the shanks of the upper and lower bars and bar of the handle having aligned openings extended therethrough, and the bar of the handle having a counter-bore in one side and around said opening, a pivot pin positioned in said openings pivotally connecting the shanks of the upper and lower References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS v Hothersall Jan. 30,1940

2,257,532 Perocco Sept. 30, 1941 2,455,496 Kaskauras Dec. 7, 1948 2,598,839 Schulz. et a1 June 3, 1952 A. an 

